Fairchild Airmen, in and out of uniform, rescue hiker

Published Sept. 8, 2011
By 2nd Lt. Kwang Woong Kim
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Airmen from the 336th Training Support Squadron and 36th Rescue Flight, along with an off-duty Airman from the 336th Training Support Squadron, saved a man Sept. 3 near Emerald Lake of Colville National Forest, Wash., after he fell and injured his leg.

The victim, Anthony Beam, was hiking with friends participating in a bachelor party camping trip. As he was using a boulder to use as leverage loosened, causing him to fall. As he fell, the heavy boulder rolled over his leg, injuring it severely.

Tech Sgt. Christopher Poole, an independent duty medical technician from the 336th Training Group was nearby as the accident occurred.

"While out hiking with my family, we heard a scream and someone calling for help," said Poole. "My son, Jerred, and I left our packs with my family and quickly made our way towards the site."

Using his survival skills learned from his training, he assessed the situation and began administering first aid.

"He had a large hole in his thigh so I treated it," said Poole. "I exposed the wound, ensured the bleeding was under control and evaluated for other injuries while Jerred gathered items to use as an improvised splint and worked on a way to shade the patient. After splinting the affected leg and hip, we kept the patient comfortable and monitored for shock."

Members of the party were thankful to have Poole administering first aid to Beam.
"He was the first person outside our party to respond," said Todd Cady, a member of the bachelor party. "He was cool and calm as he surveyed the situation and organized people to help assist him as he began administering first aid. He helped put a tourniquet on Tony and stabilized his injuries. He was well-trained and did a fantastic job taking care of Tony."

Cady was able to establish radio communication and reach the paramedics.

"He was there with us after we made contact until the paramedics arrived 2 to 3 hours later," said Cady. "He reported everything he did in his first aid, and immediately backed off as the paramedics took over. We were grateful to have him there."

Working in conjunction with MedStar, three Airmen from the 36th Rescue Flight and one from the 336th Training Support Squadron arrived on scene in a UH-1N Iroquois helicopter soon after the first-responders arrived.

The flight engineer, Tech. Sgt. Steven Perez, described the events.

"We received word of an injured civilian and arrived on scene within 35-40 minutes. The extraction point was at a small, narrow canyon that was full of trees," said Perez. "The pilots, Capts. Stephen Jones and John Alsbrooks did a great job landing the helicopter in the small area. We made a few trips back and forth to extract members of the bachelor party and some of the paramedics out of the valley."

In addition to Alsbrooks, Jones and Perez, Master Sgt. Jeremy Wade, a medical technician from 336th Training Support Squadron, was in the helicopter supporting the rescue.

MedStar successfully airlifted Beam to Sacred Heart Hospital.

This was the 665th save for the rescue flight and the fourth in the past four weeks.